APEEJAY SCHOOL,COMMON EXAMINATION 2017-2018

CLASS IX

ENGLISH

DURATION- 3 HOURS MM-80

INSTRUCTIONS

I. The Question Paper is divided into three sections:

SECTION A- Reading 20 MARKS
SECTION B- Writing and Grammar 30 MARKS
SECTION C- Literature 30 MARKS
II. All questions are compulsory.
III. All questions of that particular section must be attempted in the correct order.

SECTION-A READING

Q.1 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. When areas in and around Leh began to experience
water shortages, life didn’t grind to a halt. Why? Because Chewang Norphel, a retired civil engineer in
the Jammu and Kashmir government came up with the idea of artificial glaciers.

2. Ladakh, a cold desert at an altitude of 3,000-3,500 metres above sea level, has a low average annual
rainfall rate of 50mm. Glaciers have always been the only source of water. Agriculture is completely
dependent on glacier melt unlike the rest of river/monsoon-fed India. But over the years with increasing
effects of climate change, rainfall and snowfall patterns have been changing, resulting in severe shortage
and drought situations. Given the severe winter conditions, the window for farming is usually limited to
one harvest season.

3. It is located between the natural glacier above and the village below. The one closer to the village and
lowest in altitude melts first, providing water during April/ May, the crucial sowing season. Further,
layers of ice above melt with increasing temperature thus ensuring continuous supply to the fields. Thus,
farmers have been able to manage two crops instead of one. It costs about Rs.1,50,000 and above to
create one.

4. Fondly called the “glacier man”, Mr. Norphel has designed over 15 artificial glaciers in and around Leh
since 1987. In recognition of his pioneering effort, he was conferred the Padma Shri by President Pranab
Mukherjee in 2015.

5. There are few basic steps followed in creating the artificial glacier.

6. River or stream water at higher altitude is diverted to a shaded area of the hill, facing north, where
the winter sun is blocked by a ridge or a mountain range. At the start of winter/November, the diverted
water, making shallow pools and freeze, forming, a cascade of ice along the slope. Ice formation
continues for 3-4 months resulting in a large accumulation of ice which is referred to as an “artificial
glacier”.

1.1 Attempt the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read:

(1X8=8 Marks)

i. Who is Chewang Norphel?

ii. What kind of land form is Ladakh?
iii. Why have glaciers been the only source of water for Ladakh?
iv. What does “window for farming” mean?
v. How are glaciers significant for irrigation?
vi. How do farmers manage to grow two crops instead of one?
vii. How has Mr. Norphel been recognized for his effort?
viii. Find the word in the paragraph 6 which means the same as ‘gathering’?

Q.2 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. Have you ever failed at something so miserably that the thought of attempting to do it again was the
last thing you wanted to do?

2. If your answer is yes, than you are “not a robot”. Unlike robots, we human beings have feelings,
emotions and dreams. We are all meant to grow and stretch despite our circumstances and our
limitations. Flourishing and trying to make our dreams come true is great when life is going our way. But
what happens when it’s not? What happens when you fail despite of all your hard work? Do you stay
down and accept defeat or do you get up again and again until you are satisfied? If you have a tendency
to preserve and keep going then you have what experts call grit.

3. Falling down or failing is one of the most agonizing, embarrassing and the scariest human
experiences. But it is also one of the most educational, empowering, and essential parts of living a a a
successful and fulfilling life. Did you know that perseverance (grit) is one of the seven qualities that have
been described as the keys to personal success and betterment in society? The other six are: curiosity,
gratitude, optimism, self- control, social intelligence, and zest. Thomas Edison is a model for grit for
trying 1,000 plus times to invent the light bulb. If you are reading this with the lights on in your room,
you know well he succeeded. When asked why he kept going despite his hundreds of failures, he merely
stated that what they had been not failures. They were hundreds of ways not to create a light bulb. This
statement not only revealed his grit but also his optimism for looking at the bright side.

4. Grit can be learned to help you become more successful. One of the techniques that helps is
mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that helps the individual stay in the moment by bringing
awareness of his or her experience without judgement. This practice has been used to quiet the noise of
their fears and doubts. Through this simple practice of mindfulness, individuals have the ability to stop
the self- sabotaging downward spiral of hopelessness, despair, and frustration.
5. What you do to overcome the negative and self- sabotaging feelings of failure? Reflect on what you
did, and try to use those same powerful resources to help you today.

2.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, and answer the following questions in about 30-40
words each: (4X2=8)

i. According to the passage, what are the attributes of a human?

ii. How is ‘failing’ an educational and empowering part of human life?
iii. In what ways can grit be developed?
iv. How does mindfulness help?

2.2 On the basis of your reading of the passage, choose the right option:

(1X4=4)

i. Failure is a part of __________ life.

a. Normal b. common c. human d. ordinary

ii. In paragraph 2, __________ means continue.

a. Robots b. satisfied c. persevere d. flourishing

iii. In paragraph 3, the synonym of distressing is ___________.

a. Embarrassing b. scariest c. agonizing d. failing

iv. _____________ helps in preventing individuals from going down the lines of despair.
a. Success b. fear c. doubt d. mindfulness

SECTION B- WRITING AND GRAMMAR

 Q.3 Air pollution is a big problem. It affects the air we breathe. The earth is choking because of
harmful gases. Write an article in about 100-150 words for your school magazine titled “Save Earth
Save Life”. You can also take ideas from the MCB unit Environment.
(8)
Q.4 Write a story in 200-250 words with the opening line- “It was a freezing cold might. I found a
homeless family on my doorstep and invited them into my home to sleep. But in the morning……”.
(10)
Q.5 In the passage given below, one word has been omitted in each line. Write the missing word along
with the word that comes before and the word after.

(4)
Before Missing After
A reporter was interviewing a witness about
An accident. She him if he had seen (a)_______ ________ _________
The accident taking. If he could tell (b) _______ ________ _________
Her what he seen. The witness replied (c)_______ ________ _________
That had seen a car coming at a (d) _______ ________ _________
Very speed and hitting the scooter. (e) _______ ________ _________
The reporter asked him the scooterist (f) _______ ________ _________
Was driving his lane. The witness (g) _______ ________ _________
Said that he was no fault. (h) _______ ________ _________

Q.6 Rearrange these words/ phrases to make meaningful sentences. (4)

a) are measurement/ amount/ of the/ calories/ of/ different/ provided/ foods/ energy/ by

b) become overweight/ people/ in daily/ take in/ they/ than/ when/ more calories/ or energy/ use up/
they/ activities

c) extra / energy/ the / in/ the body/ stored/ is / form/ of/ fat/ in/ the
d)definitions\various\exist\ fall\but\ categories\two\into\broad

Q.7 Read the conversation given below and complete the report that follows:

(4)

Servant: Please give me leave for a week.

Master: Why do you need such a long leave?

Servant: I have to visit my village.

Master: Ok, but don’t overstay. I will not tolerate it this time.

The servant requested his master (a) __________ . The master asked him (b) ____________. To this,
servant said (c) __________. The master acceded to his request, but asked him not to overstay. Also
added(d)________________

SECTION C- LITERATURE

Q.8 Read the following extracts and answer ANY ONE of the following :

(1X4=4)

a) “The field and clouds are lovers

And between them I am a messenger of mercy.

I quench the thirst of the one;

I cure the ailment of the other.”

 i) How is the speaker ‘ a messenger of mercy’?
ii) How des it help the cloud?
iii) What does the poet mean by ‘the ailment’ of the other? How does the rain cure the
ailment of the ‘other’?
iv) Identify the poetic device used in the extract and explain it.

OR

“If I’d known, I was paving the way

To cavities, caps and decay, The murder of fillin’s

Injections and drillin’s,

I’d have thrown all me sherbet’ here?

i) What did the speaker not know

ii) What problem does the speaker has to face now ?
iii) What would have the speaker done, if she had known her present plight ?
iv) What is the meaning of the term ‘paving’ ?

Q.9 Answer any four questions in about 30-40 words : (2X4=8)

i) Why did the grandmother think to read and write at the age of sixty-two?

ii) It’s all a matter of intelligent reading’, said Private Quelch. Explain the statement on the basis of

Professor’s character.

iii) Which road does the poet choose and Why?

 iv) John is a hypocrite. Do you agree with this statement? Substantiate your answer.
v) Why was Chuck a favored young man ?

Q.10 Answer any one question in 100-200 words. (1X8=8)

As Harold, express your feelings in form of a diary entry expressing how you felt on learning about your
father’s profession.

OR

The Bishop is a living example of the greatest tenet of Christianity- forgiveness. Justify this statement by
giving evidence from the text.

Q.11 Answer any one question in about 150-200 words. (1X10=10)

Write a brief character sketch of Harris. Describe what happens when Harris volunteered to make
scrambled eggs ?
OR
Why did three friends decide to go on a holiday? Was the purpose fulfilled? Give reasons for your
answer.

OR
What were the experiences of Gulliver when he was pulled up on the flying island?
OR
Write a character sketch of Gulliver.